Winning Form share all of their best bets and tips for Friday’s racing coming your way from Randwick-Kensington on 1 December 2023.
Best Bet: CLOUDLAND (Race 5)
Value Bet: ZOUPRINCE (Race 4)
Jackpot (race 4 – 7)
1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th |
3 | 2 | 4 | 3 |
2 | 4 | 5 | 4 |
8 |
| 6 | 6 |
Cost: R54.00
Race 4
ZOUPRINCE has consistent formlines to his name and was bumped at the start, but battled all the way down to the wire when finishing second last time out over six furlongs, just a neck behind the winner. The colt was returning from an 18-week rest that day and from draw five, he is taken to be the value bet on the day’s card.
Two 3yr old fillies could chase him home, with the slight preference going to CELESTIAL SPIRIT who followed up her penultimate run victory over 1500M with an eleventh place finish next time out over nine furlongs, 6.7L lengths back from the winner when not quite going on with her effort over the latter stages and was immediately rested for 25 weeks. She returns here after having had two barrier trials, finishing third in the latest. From a handy draw three and with her having 2kgs taken off her back thanks to her claiming apprentice, she should be right up there when they hit the line.
TREIZE had her consistency rewarded with a 1.3L victory last time out over seven furlongs. She returns from a 23 week break, but has had two barrier trials, finishing second in the latest. She is drawn one inside the latter and will have 3kgs removed from her allocated weight courtesy of her claiming apprentice.
Race 5
The day’s best bet, CLOUDLAND won his penultimate start over six furlongs and then showed plenty of toe before being nabbed in the shadow of the post to finish second next time out over 1300M, just a head back from the winner. He has his peak run after returning from a 20-week break and gets a useful gate two to aid his cause.
LOUISVILLE was returning from a 17-week rest and finished strongly to win his last start over six furlongs by just under a half-length. The gelding had pulled gate five and could emerge as the biggest danger to the top choice.
CHARLEMAGNE is seldom far off the action, finishing third in his last two runs, the latest over six furlongs, just 0.8L back from the winner, when returning from a shorter 12-week rest. He was however slow away that day, had to be held up at the top of the home straight, before staying on well over the latter stages. The gelding jumps from draw seven and will have the services of a 3kg claiming apprentice. He should be involved in the finish.
Race 6
SERENE NIC won her last start over 1300M by two lengths despite being bumped at the 600M mark and coming four wide into the home straight and the form of that race has been franked. She finished eighth in a subsequent barrier trial and although drawn wide in gate nine, she could prove hard to topple.
MISS FABERGE won her penultimate run over six furlongs and then came five wide into the home straight from some way back to finish fifth next time out over 1300M, two and a half lengths off the winner. She has her peak run after returning from a 17-week rest and from a useful draw two, she will be hoping to bounce back to winning ways today.
VENETIAN BLUE jumped awkwardly but still managed to race just behind the leaders before going on to win her last start over 2100M, albeit by just a neck. She returns from a 19 week spell, but has had the benefit of two barrier trials and although dropping some way in trip, she should be included in all bets.
Race 7
COOL JAKEY won over six furlongs three runs back, finished third in his penultimate start over seven furlongs and then sixth in his latest outing, again over seven furlongs, 4.7L behind the winner, but he was reported to have been lame in his near-hind leg and was immediately rested for 33 weeks and moved to a new trainer. He returns here after having had two barrier trials and from a cosy gate four, he could reward his new yard with a victory first time out.
SHOHEI is a 5yr old mare taking on the boys, but she has consistent formlines to her credit, finishing fifth last time out over six furlongs, just one and a half lengths behind the winner when returning from a 31-week break. She did, however, jump awkwardly in that event, bumping another runner, before finishing off her race well. She faces a wide draw twelve, but she should be doing her best work late.
MASTER SHOWMAN was returning from a 17-week rest and was crowded shortly after the start, before over racing in the middle stages and coming three wide into the home straight when finishing fourth last time out over 1100M, 2.7L behind the winner, so he had his excuses. From gate seven, he will be looking for his third career victory today.
